The University of Chicago Police Department is renovating the former Dunkin’ Donuts building on 53rd Street.

A building permit was issued for the $210,000 project at 1411 E. 53rd St., early last month. Renovations will include alterations to the first for to provide office space for UCPD.

UCPD will open a storefront office on an interim basis, the University of Chicago said in a press release. The office will support patrol officers in the neighborhood and allow space for community policing meetings.

The space will be divided into office and meeting spaces. It will not be staffed full time and it will not act as a police station.

UCPD Police Chief Marlon Lynch said in a press release that the department will evaluate the office use and benefits to determine the most appropriate long-term presence in the neighborhood.

UCPD currently patrols 53rd Street on foot, on scooters and in cars but its jurisdiction extends from 37th Street on the north to 64th Street on the south.

From the LETTERS Page

"Dreams of two separate owners swooping in to buy each of these houses and then spending what might well be $1 million each in renovations in addition to the purchase price are not likely to come true."From "B&B proposals a practical choice"

"At the meeting, we could not even discuss how the bed-and-breakfast would be operationalized because the vast majority of attendees at the meeting did not want a bed-and-breakfast under any circumstance."From "Ald. Burns explains B&B decision"

"The university has invested a great deal in Harper Court and 53rd Street to help attract amenities, create jobs and support new business opportunities. As neighbors, we are committed to seeing Hyde Park flourish, now and in the future."From "Clearing the air on Harper Court"